Most bang for buck upgrade?

So we are all always on here talking about all these expensive items and upgrades, at least most of us are, but I’m curious to the “ so we are all always on here talking about all these expensive items and upgrades, at least most of us are, but I’m curious to see what some of the best upgrades for the least amount of money that some of you have come across in your journey?
Auralic Vega G1/Rega TT/Denon SACD - Parasound P6 - PS Audio M700x2 - Elac Adante AF-61 - AQ Niagara 5000 - SVS SB16u
Comments
Saying that it's "too hard" to pursue your dreams is no different than admitting to yourself that you are too lazy to achieve them.
“If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.”
Saying that it's "too hard" to pursue your dreams is no different than admitting to yourself that you are too lazy to achieve them.
“If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.”
Currently enjoying: Legacy Focus 20/20, McCormack DNA 225, Bill D C1, Oppo 105
I hope one day I get to hear these famous SDA’s
Other bangs:
Douglas Connection Furez IC's
Wireworld Equinox SC's
Pangea AC-14se PC's
PNF Audio cables
MastersounD BoX
RD0 tweeters as mentioned above
Baby Marantz receivers (2215, 2216) - the others are now too expensive and these still play well with modern speakers
****AURALiC Aries Mini - still unparalleled on the market. Even though I'm no longer a dealer for them, I wish this product was still available as I still push clients entering the streaming world to find a used one. They're getting harder and harder to find.
Obviously most I listed are cables but its easier IMO to get a passive product to shine than it is an active one.
1. Turntable cartridge change
2. Speakers
Current Gear:
Torus RM15 -> Emm Labs DAC2x and TSDX Transport -> Cary SLP-05 preamp -> Boulder 2060 stereo amp (w/ Audioquest WEL Signature) -> new speakers
Rotel RA1592 Super Integrated -> Sonus Faber Olympica 3
Rotel RC1570 preamp -> Rotel RB1582 amp -> Focal Kanta 2
Old Gear:
Speakers: BW PM1 (3.5/5), CM10s2 (3.75/5), BW800D3 (5/5), Rockport Aviors (5/5), Sonus Faber Stradivari (5/5), BW 802D2 (4.5/5), Martin Logan Summits (4.25/5), Martin Logan Vantage (4/5), Sonus Faber Cremona Auditor (3.75/5), AV123 Strata Mini (3.5/5), ML Mosaic (3.25/5), Onix Ref1 (3/5), Sonus Faber Concerto (2.75/5), SF Concertino (2.5/5), Axiom M22ti (2/5), Polk LSi9 (3/5), LSi7 (2.9/5)
Source: Squeezebox 3 -> PS Audio Digital Link III -> Cary 306/200 CDP -> Cary 306 SACD -> EMM LABS DAC2X/TSDX
Preamplification: Rotel RC1070 -> Rogue Perseus -> Cary SLP98 -> Cary SLP98F1 -> Cary SLP05 (sold and then repurchased)
Amplification: HK AVR330 -> Rotel RB1070 -> Rotel RB1090 -> Plinius SA102 -> Cary 211FE -> Classe M600 -> Boulder 2060
Subwoofer: Infinity Entra2 sub -> SVS 25-31PC+ sub
Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC
It's "bang for BUCK", not "bang for MORTGAGE".
SDA 1C's - Full mod with the help by Dave...
1000 Va Dreadnought- w/ WireWorld Mini-Eclipse cables
WireWorld Mini-Eclipse 7 speaker cables
WireWorld Silver Eclipse IC's
Cambridge Audio Azur 851N - DAC/Streamer
In The Market For A New Pre...
B&K M200 Sonata Monoblocks
BLE-Design 16mm Power Cables
Denon DVD 2900
Barn system:
SDA SRS 2.3's Full mod done by myself
Carver C-1 pre
Carver M1.5t
BluDenso - Bluetooth receiver/DAC
Current Gear:
Torus RM15 -> Emm Labs DAC2x and TSDX Transport -> Cary SLP-05 preamp -> Boulder 2060 stereo amp (w/ Audioquest WEL Signature) -> new speakers
Rotel RA1592 Super Integrated -> Sonus Faber Olympica 3
Rotel RC1570 preamp -> Rotel RB1582 amp -> Focal Kanta 2
Old Gear:
Speakers: BW PM1 (3.5/5), CM10s2 (3.75/5), BW800D3 (5/5), Rockport Aviors (5/5), Sonus Faber Stradivari (5/5), BW 802D2 (4.5/5), Martin Logan Summits (4.25/5), Martin Logan Vantage (4/5), Sonus Faber Cremona Auditor (3.75/5), AV123 Strata Mini (3.5/5), ML Mosaic (3.25/5), Onix Ref1 (3/5), Sonus Faber Concerto (2.75/5), SF Concertino (2.5/5), Axiom M22ti (2/5), Polk LSi9 (3/5), LSi7 (2.9/5)
Source: Squeezebox 3 -> PS Audio Digital Link III -> Cary 306/200 CDP -> Cary 306 SACD -> EMM LABS DAC2X/TSDX
Preamplification: Rotel RC1070 -> Rogue Perseus -> Cary SLP98 -> Cary SLP98F1 -> Cary SLP05 (sold and then repurchased)
Amplification: HK AVR330 -> Rotel RB1070 -> Rotel RB1090 -> Plinius SA102 -> Cary 211FE -> Classe M600 -> Boulder 2060
Subwoofer: Infinity Entra2 sub -> SVS 25-31PC+ sub
Mine was when I purchased the Dyn C4's, I needed good power as I already owned the C1's
The Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks purchase was the biggest bang for the buck. 250watts per channel of Nelson Pass class A power for under $7k. That included purchase, shipping, and refurb. That's at least 1/3 of current market price for that much quality and power. My Dyn's loved me for it too!!
Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC
Yea, I just thought maybe a Boulder amp 2060 could be in my future so I checked them out.
I don't see one of those in my future upgrades.
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk
The VTL tube pre-amp. Going from the Rotel 1580 SS pre to the VTL was a major leap for me.
Of course my SDA SRS's!
The extra bit of sweetness for me is all the great deals you can find here on CP. Yeah I'm a little further behind on many of the journey's here, but I'm happy to take your hand-me-downs!
Office: PC, EAR Acute CD Player, EAR 834L Pre, PASS ACA Monoblocks, Denon UDR-F10 Cassette, Acoustic Technologies Classic FR Speakers, SVS SB12 Plus sub, MIT AVt2 speaker cables, IFI Purifier2, AQ Cinnamon USB cable, Groneberg Quatro Reference IC's
Spare Room: , Antique Sound Labs Wave AV-8 Monoblocks, Tisbury Mini Passive Pre, Tjoeb 99 tube CD player (modified Marantz CD-38), Analysis Plus Oval 9's, Zu Jumpers, AudioEngine B1 Streamer, Klipsch RB-61 v2, SVS PB1000 sub, Blue Jeans RCA IC's
Living Room: Peachtree Nova Integrated, Cambridge CXN v2 Streamer, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Polk RT265 In Wall Speakers, Polk DSW Pro 660wi sub
Parasound Halo A 31 OnkyoTX-NR838 Sony XBR55X850B 55" 4K RtiA9 Fronts CsiA6 Center RtiA3 Rears FxiA6 Side Surrounds Dual Psw 111's Oppo 105D Signal Ultra Speaker Cables & IC's Signal Magic Power Cable Technics SL Q300 Panamax MR4300 Audioquest Chocolate HDMI Cables Audioquest Forest USB Cable
2 Channel
Adcom 555II Vincent SA-T1 Marantz SA 15S2 Denon DR-M11 Clearaudio Bluemotion SDA 2.3tl's (Z) edition MIT Terminator II Speaker Cables & IC's Adcom 545II Adcom Gtp-450 Marantz CD5004 Technics M245X SDA 2B's, SDA CRS+
Stuff for the Head
JD LABS C5 Headphone Amplifier, Sennheiser HD 598, Polk Audio Buckle, Polk Audio Hinge, Velodyne vPulse, Bose IE2, Sennheiser CX 200 Street II, Sennheiser MX 365
Shower & Off the beaten path Rigs
Polk Audio Boom Swimmer, Polk Audio Urchin
And, I may say, you have the satisfaction of the DIY! Well done sir!
Office: PC, EAR Acute CD Player, EAR 834L Pre, PASS ACA Monoblocks, Denon UDR-F10 Cassette, Acoustic Technologies Classic FR Speakers, SVS SB12 Plus sub, MIT AVt2 speaker cables, IFI Purifier2, AQ Cinnamon USB cable, Groneberg Quatro Reference IC's
Spare Room: , Antique Sound Labs Wave AV-8 Monoblocks, Tisbury Mini Passive Pre, Tjoeb 99 tube CD player (modified Marantz CD-38), Analysis Plus Oval 9's, Zu Jumpers, AudioEngine B1 Streamer, Klipsch RB-61 v2, SVS PB1000 sub, Blue Jeans RCA IC's
Living Room: Peachtree Nova Integrated, Cambridge CXN v2 Streamer, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Polk RT265 In Wall Speakers, Polk DSW Pro 660wi sub
As far as my bang for the buck, I've mostly done vinyl the past few years, and I think the phono stage is often overlooked/under appreciated. I honestly believe phonostage upgrades have made more significant changes than cartridge changes or turn table changes in my system. I would image a DAC likely holds the same relevance in the digital chain when you get it right.
Digital: Sony CDP-CE375 / Streaming > Cambridge CXN v2
MastersounD Dueventi > JBL Studio 580 or Arcam rHead > Hifiman HE4XX
Discogs
SDA 1C's - Full mod with the help by Dave...
1000 Va Dreadnought- w/ WireWorld Mini-Eclipse cables
WireWorld Mini-Eclipse 7 speaker cables
WireWorld Silver Eclipse IC's
Cambridge Audio Azur 851N - DAC/Streamer
In The Market For A New Pre...
B&K M200 Sonata Monoblocks
BLE-Design 16mm Power Cables
Denon DVD 2900
Barn system:
SDA SRS 2.3's Full mod done by myself
Carver C-1 pre
Carver M1.5t
BluDenso - Bluetooth receiver/DAC
Nope. Look at em everyday while in the basement. But yes, I do plan to finish them!
Office: PC, EAR Acute CD Player, EAR 834L Pre, PASS ACA Monoblocks, Denon UDR-F10 Cassette, Acoustic Technologies Classic FR Speakers, SVS SB12 Plus sub, MIT AVt2 speaker cables, IFI Purifier2, AQ Cinnamon USB cable, Groneberg Quatro Reference IC's
Spare Room: , Antique Sound Labs Wave AV-8 Monoblocks, Tisbury Mini Passive Pre, Tjoeb 99 tube CD player (modified Marantz CD-38), Analysis Plus Oval 9's, Zu Jumpers, AudioEngine B1 Streamer, Klipsch RB-61 v2, SVS PB1000 sub, Blue Jeans RCA IC's
Living Room: Peachtree Nova Integrated, Cambridge CXN v2 Streamer, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Polk RT265 In Wall Speakers, Polk DSW Pro 660wi sub